Salmonellosis in hospitalized horses: seasonality and case fatality rates

Salmonellosis was studied during an 11-year period (July 1971 through June 1982) in 245 hospitalized horses. Ten years' data (207 cases) were analyzed in a time series study. Peak seasonality of the disease was from June through September. The cycle curve revealed 3 major outbreaks, with no apparent periodicity. Eighteen Salmonella serotypes caused clinical salmonellosis in horses, but 84% of the cases and 90% of the deaths were caused by 5 serotypes: Salmonella typhimurium, S typhimurium var copenhagen, S anatum, S kottbus, and S saint-paul. Overall, the case fatality rate was 44.9%. Excluding mixed infections, horses infected with S typhimurium and S typhimurium var copenhagen, had a significantly higher (P less than 0.001) case fatality rate (60.4%) than those infected with other Salmonella serotypes (32.3%).     

Comparative plasmid profile analysis of Salmonella typhimurium var. Copenhagen strains from a Salmonella outbreak in hospitalized horses]

From April 1990 through June 1991 clinical salmonellosis and asymptomatic faecal excretion of Salmonella spp. were seen in hospitalized horses at two veterinary hospitals. 76 Salmonella strains from hospitalized horses and 18 strains from horses without any clinical contact were characterized by serotyping and plasmid profile analysis. From April 1990 through January 1991 97.8% of the hospitalized horses were infected with strains of S. typhimurium var. Copenhagen, which were closely related according to their similar plasmid patterns. Other strains of S. typhimurium var. Copenhagen and serotype S. enteritidis were isolated not before February 1991. In the same period various plasmid profile types of S. typhimurium var. Copenhagen and strains of S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis and S. lexington were isolated from horses of the control group. Our results suggest that the high incidence of salmonellosis and latent salmonella infection in hospitalized horses was mainly due to the spread of one particular strain of S. typhimurium var. Copenhagen and that this strain was obviously acquired during hospitalisation.     

Plasmid profile analysis of salmonellae in a large-animal hospital

The plasmid profiles of salmonellae isolated from the patients and environment of the Purdue Large Animal Hospital were used as markers to identify strains and to assess the impact of improvements in hospital operation on nosocomial salmonellosis. Plasmid profile analysis proved to be more sensitive than either serotyping or antimicrobial susceptibility testing in identifying Salmonella isolates. During June and July 1983, 29 of 34 salmonellae isolated were one of three strains with distinct plasmid profiles: one S. typhimurium var. Copenhagen, and two S. muenchen. Each of these strains was isolated from at least one patient and two environmental sites, suggesting the possibility that infections were hospital-acquired. Patient and environmental sampling was repeated in June and July 1984, after improvements had been made in hospital traffic flow and sanitation. In contrast to 1983, only seven isolates, representing six strains not seen previously, were obtained in 1984. None of these strains was isolated from both patient and environmental sources. The results indicate that the high incidence of clinical salmonellosis in 1983 was largely due to nosocomial infections. The decrease in the incidence of salmonellosis and the absence of the 1983 strains from samples taken in 1984 were presumed to be due to improvements made in hospital operation. This study demonstrates the value of plasmid analysis in monitoring nosocomial salmonellosis in a veterinary hospital.     

Prevalence and epizootiology of equine salmonellosis.

Feces from 1,451 horses entering a veterinary hospital over a 13-month period were cultured for salmonella. A total of 46 horses (3.2%) yielded 1 or more salmonella-positive fecal cultures. Twenty horses were found to be excreting salmonella in the feces on admission, and 5 of these later had severe diarrhea associated with enteric salmonellosis. Abdominal surgery and other severe stresses were associated with all cases of severe enteric salmonellosis. Serotypes of salmonella isolated included Salmonella agona (15), S anatum (14), S typhimurium (7), S typhimurium var copenhagen (4), S infantis (2), S montevideo (1), S meleagridis (1), S drypool (1), and an unnamed Salmonella serotype (1). Seven deaths were attributed to 4 serotypes (S typhimurium, 3; S anatum, 2; S typhimurium var copenhagen, 1; and S montevideo, 1). A marked seasonal incidence is isolations was found with isolations highest in later summer to early fall and lowest in the spring. It was also found that horses can shed salmonella intermittently, and a minimal of 5 consecutive negative fecal cultures is recommended before considering a horse not to be infected with salmonella.     

The significance of the serotype in the clinical and pathological features of naturally occurring porcine salmonellosis.

Salmonellosis was the diagnosis in 63 of 327 consecutive porcine necropsy accessions during a one year period in Indiana, an incidence four to ten times that previously reported in other areas. A herd outbreak was usually either a septicemic disease characterized by sudden mortality. Little overlap between these two syndromes were seen. Animals dying with the septicemic form usually yielded Salmonella choleraesuis var. kunzendorf on culture. Salmonella typhimurium was the usual isolate from cases of enteric salmonellosis. Oral inoculation of SPF pigs with S. typhimurium resulted in a disease similar to naturally occurring enteric salmonellosis. The pathology of porcine salmonellosis due to S. typhimurium is described.     

Some aspects of the epidemiology of equine salmonellosis

A survey of 2 horse populations was done to detect the number of asymptomatic faecal excretors of Salmonella sp. 1201 faecal samples from 250 horses hospitalised at the University of Sydney were cultured. Three serotypes, S. typhimurium (4 horses), S. anatum (2) and S. tennessee (1) were isolated from 7 horses (2.8%). None was detected in 75 mares similarly examined at a thoroughbred stud farm. In retrospect, S. typhimurium was also the most common (70%) of the 19 serotypes recovered from 171 horses with clinical salmonellosis seen at Camden, 1969 to 1986. Forty cases occurring since 1983 were reviewed in detail; the mortality rate was high (60%) and an increased proportion was due to S. bovis-morbificans. Five horses developed salmonellosis while hospitalised and it was usually impossible to be certain whether these cases developed from the carrier state into overt disease or resulted from infections acquired in hospital.     

A multi-state Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak associated with frozen vacuum-packed rodents used to feed snakes

From December 2005 through January 2006, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) identified four human clinical isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium that were indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). During routine interviews, three of the cases reported attending the same junior high school and two handled snakes in the science classroom. MDH collected environmental samples from the school's science classroom for Salmonella culturing; these included environmental samples and frozen vacuum-packed mice purchased over the internet to feed the classroom snakes. Through PulseNet, a national molecular subtyping surveillance network for enteric bacteria, 21 human S. Typhimurium isolates with indistinguishable PFGE patterns were identified in the United States since December 2005. Each state determined whether these human cases had recent exposure to snakes fed vacuum-packed rodents. Texas state officials conducted tracebacks of the vacuum-packed mice and collected samples at the breeding facility. Nineteen of 21 cases were interviewed, and seven reported contact with frozen vacuum-packed rodents from the same internet-based supplier in Texas. In Minnesota, the outbreak PFGE subtype of S. Typhimurium was isolated from the snakes, frozen feed rodents, and the classroom environment. Three human cases were identified in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. The outbreak PFGE subtype of S. Typhimurium was isolated from the Pennsylvania case's frozen rodents and the Michigan case's pet snake. The outbreak PFGE subtype of S. Typhimurium was also isolated from the supplier's rodent facility. This was a S. Typhimurium outbreak associated with frozen rodents. Human transmission likely occurred through direct contact with snakes and contaminated environmental surfaces. This report represents the second recent multi-state salmonellosis outbreak associated with commercially distributed rodents. Stronger oversight of the commercial rodent industry is warranted.     

Molecular epidemiology of Salmonella Heidelberg in an equine hospital

From 1992 to 1997, multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella Heidelberg isolates were cultured from a number of horses hospitalised in a veterinary hospital in Victoria, Australia. To examine the relationships between the cases, 28 isolates from the hospital were compared by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), IS200 element profiles, antimicrobial resistance patterns, plasmid profiles and phage typing. The PFGE patterns following digestion with XbaI and BlnI restriction endonucleases showed that the isolates from the veterinary hospital originated from a common source. These isolates also had indistinguishable IS200 profiles. However, PFGE was more discriminatory than IS200 profiles. All the veterinary hospital isolates and one independent isolate had the same antimicrobial resistance pattern and had at least one plasmid in common. Localisation of antimicrobial resistance genes indicated that the veterinary hospital isolates had more than one plasmid carrying resistance genes and that the genes encoding sulphathiazole and trimethoprim resistance were not on these plasmids. Phage typing was ineffective as 22 of the 28 isolates were untypeable. In conclusion, the combination of different methods used for epidemiological studies suggested that a single strain of MDR S. Heidelberg was isolated from horses admitted to the hospital for 6 years and caused salmonellosis in susceptible horses within that period with no apparent correlation between the antimicrobials used and retention of its MDR phenotype.     

鸡沙门氏菌脉冲场凝胶电泳分型研究

为应用脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)从分子水平上对禽源沙门氏菌之间的差别进行分析和研究,本研究采用自动微生物鉴定仪对12株疑似鼠伤寒沙门氏菌和15株疑似鸡白痢沙门氏菌进行了鉴定.以限制性核酸内切酶Xba I对其全基因组DNA进行酶切、PFGE分型,Info Quest FP聚类分析软件对电泳结果进行分析.结果显示,共鉴定出11株鼠伤寒沙门氏菌、1株圣保罗沙门氏菌、6株阿姆斯特丹沙门氏菌、5株亚拉巴马沙门氏菌、1株鸡白痢沙门氏菌、2株纽波特沙门氏菌和2株肠炎沙门氏菌,一共分为12个PFGE型.实验结果表明,江苏地区存在有不常见的沙门氏菌血清型,同种血清型之间的基因型差别较小(相似值为0.85～1),不同血清型之间差别较大(相似值为0.45～0.70).PFGE能从分子水平上对禽源沙门氏菌的基因组DNA进行分型.     

Dynamics of Salmonella contamination in a commercial quail operation.

Control of carcass contamination requires knowledge of the source and dynamics of spread of Salmonella in commercial poultry production. We examined Salmonella contamination at a U.S. commercial quail operation. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to type isolates in order to trace Salmonella throughout this production environment. During a 6-mo survey, Salmonella serotypes hadar, typhimurium, typhimurium variant Copenhagen, and paratyphi were encountered within this poultry operation. Ninety-four percent of the Salmonella isolated from breeder and production houses and from carcass rinses belonged to Salmonella serotypes typhimurium variant Copenhagen and hadar. There were six distinct S. typhimurium variant Copenhagen genetic types, as identified by PFGE, present within this particular poultry operation. Seventy-nine percent of S. typhimurium variant Copenhagen identified from the environment of the breeder and production houses produced the same PFGE pattern. Thirty-eight percent of S. typhimurium Copenhagen isolated from carcass rinses and the breeder house shared the same PFGE DNA pattern. This study demonstrates the transmission of salmonellae throughout this production environment, from the breeders to their progeny and to the birds ultimately processed for human consumption.     

Risk factors for nosocomial Salmonella infection among hospitalized horses.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for nosocomial Salmonella infections among hospitalized horses. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. ANIMALS: 1,583 horses hospitalized in an intensive care unit between January 1992 and June 1996. PROCEDURE: Survivor functions were used to estimate time to shedding salmonellae for various Salmonella serotypes. Survival analysis was then used to determine how variables associated with patient management, environmental conditions, hospital conditions, and other disease processes affected the risk of nosocomial Salmonella infection. RESULTS: 78 horses shed Salmonella organisms: 35 shed Salmonella krefeld, 26 shed S typhimurium, and 17 shed other Salmonella serotypes. Mean time from admission to shedding was significantly longer for horses shedding S krefeld or S typhimurium than for horses shedding other Salmonella serotypes. Therefore, infection with S krefeld or S typhimurium was considered nosocomial. Seven variables were found to be significantly associated with risk of nosocomial Salmonella infection: mean number of horses in the hospital shedding S krefeld during the 4 days prior to and the day of admission, mean number of horses shedding S typhimurium during this period, a diagnosis of large colon impaction, withholding feed, number of days fed bran mash, duration of treatment with potassium penicillin G, and mean daily ambient temperature. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Results suggest that risk of nosocomial Salmonella infections is greater for horses with large colon impactions. In addition to implementing hospital protocols that minimize cross contamination between patients, strategies to reduce the risk of nosocomial Salmonella infection should include minimizing use of potassium penicillin G and regulation of environmental temperature in the hospital.     

Evaluation of protection against experimental salmonellosis in sheep immunised with 1 or 2 doses of live aromatic-dependent Salmonella typhimurium

The minimum number of doses of a live aromatic dependent (aro-) Salmonella typhimurium vaccine strain (SL1479), given by the intramuscular, oral or subcutaneous route required to protect sheep from experimentally-induced clinical salmonellosis, was determined. A significant reduction in mortalities and diarrhoea occurred in those sheep immunised with one or 2 intramuscular doses or 2 subcutaneous doses. On the other hand, sheep immunised with one subcutaneous dose were not protected. Immunisation with one or 2 oral doses also resulted in a significant reduction in mortality, although reduction in the prevalence of severe diarrhoea was less consistent. Sheep immunised with a single intramuscular dose of aro- S. typhimurium developed high levels of serum antibodies and significant delayed-type cutaneous hypersensitivity response to homologous Salmonella lipopolysaccharide and flagellin, whereas those with a single oral dose did not. It was concluded that immunisation of sheep with a single oral or intramuscular dose of live aro- S. typhimurium reduced mortalities and the prevalence of diarrhoea in sheep due to infection with virulent S. typhimurium.     

上海市零售禽肉制品和活禽中沙门氏菌血清型与耐药性研究

为掌握上海市沙门氏菌在农贸市场和超市禽肉制品和活禽中的污染状况、流行血清型和耐药情况,本试验从320份2012年采集的禽肉样本(240份)和活禽泄殖腔棉试子(80份)中共分离鉴定出沙门氏菌70株,阳性率为21.9%。血清型鉴定结果表明,共鉴定出11种不同的血清型,其中肠炎沙门氏菌占47.1%、印第安纳沙门氏菌占17.1%、鼠伤寒沙门氏菌和德尔卑沙门氏菌均占8.6%。通过纸片法对这70株沙门氏菌进行了16种常用抗菌药物的药敏试验,结果表明,沙门氏菌对奈啶酸耐药率最高,达75.7%,对磺胺异唑、链霉素和氨苄西林耐药率较高,分别为60.0%、60.0%和51.4%。除亚胺培南外,其他药物均有不同程度的耐药菌株。有40株(57.1%)沙门氏菌呈多重耐药表型,耐药性最强的菌株可以对14种抗菌药产生耐药性。本研究对沙门氏菌病的防控及指导临床合理用药具有重要的现实意义。     

Endothelial hyperpolarizing factor increases acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation in pulmonary hypertensive broilers arterial rings

Salmonellosis is an important disease of cattle caused predominantly by Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhimurium (S. typhimurium) and Dublin (S. dublin). S. typhimurium causes acute enteritis and exudative diarrhea in calves. In addition to enteric disease, S. dublin can cause systemic infections, and may cause abortion in pregnant cows. Calves are considered a relevant model for non-typhoidal salmonellosis in humans. Experimental oral infections or inoculation of ligated ileal loops in calves have been extensively studied recently. This article reviews relevant published results regarding bovine salmonellosis as a natural disease or as an animal model.     

仔猪沙门菌病的诊断与防治

仔猪副伤寒是由猪霍乱沙门菌、鼠伤寒沙门菌和肠炎沙门菌引起危害仔猪健康的传染病,主要临床症状表现为腹泻,急性出现败血症.论文对发病猪场疑似病料的分离菌株进行鉴定,结果分离菌株符合沙门菌检验标准,采用纸片法进行药敏试验,筛选敏感药物进行治疗,取得很好的效果,降低了养殖户的经济损失.     

Epidemiology of Salmonella typhimurium infection in calves: persistence of salmonellae on calf units.

Salmonella typhimurium DT204C infection is the commonest cause of salmonellosis in calves. On five calf rearing farms a distinct strain, as indicated by plasmid profile analysis, was found to have persisted on the premises for periods ranging from four months to two years, the average being 14 months. The persistence of salmonellae in the environment appears to be an important factor in the epidemiology of calf salmonellosis and clearly indicates the inadequacy of many cleaning and disinfection routines.     

Characterization of Salmonella Dublin and Salmonella Typhimurium (Copenhagen) Isolates from Cattle

Brackelsberg, C.A., Nolan, L.K. and Brown, J., 1997. Characterization of Salmonella dublin and Salmonella typhimurium (Copenhagen) isolates from cattle. Veterinary Research Communications, 21 (6), 409-420Eight Salmonella typhimurium (Copenhagen) and eight Salmonella dublin isolates from cattle were compared by their antibiotic resistance patterns, by their production of colicin, aerobactin, haemolysin and capsule, by their possession of transmissible R plasmids and the spvC gene, and by their ability to invade and replicate within cultured epithelial cells. The two groups differed in their antibiotic resistance profiles, with more of the host-adapted S. dublin isolates resistant to tetracycline than were the non-host-adapted S. typhimurium (Copenhagen) group, but more of the S. typhimurium (Copenhagen) isolates resistant to the other antibiotics tested. None of the isolates produced colicin, but all produced aerobactin. One isolate in each group was encapsulated. All of the S. typhimurium (Copenhagen) and S. dublin isolates contained plasmids, and all of them contained the spvC-homologous sequences. Four of the S. typhimurium (Copenhagen) isolates were able to transfer an R plasmid to a recipient organism by conjugation. One of the five S. dublin isolates, which showed resistance to some of the antibiotics tested, was able to transfer an R plasmid by conjugation. Both groups of isolates invaded cultured epithelial cells to a similar degree after 1 h, but the S. dublin isolates reached significantly higher levels within the cells than did S. typhimurium (Copenhagen) after 9 h. This ability may, in part, explain the association of S. dublin with more severe forms of salmonellosis and prolonged carrier states. Further study of the intracellular growth of these isolates seems warranted.     

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Salmonella spp in semidomesticated reindeer in Norway,determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An indirect ELISA was developed as a possible tool to detect the seroprevalence of antibodies to Salmonella spp in semidomesticated reindeer. To cover a broad spectrum of serogroups a lipopolysaccharide mix of S. typhimurium and S. choleraesuis was used as antigen in this pilot study. Sera from 31 culture-negative reindeer with no clinical or historical evidence of salmonellosis were used as negative serum control. After immunisation with an inactivated S. typhimurium vaccine, pooled sera from 6 reindeer were used as positive serum control as no serum from naturally infected animals was available. A seroprevalence of 0.6% in 2000 clinically healthy, slaughter-reindeer from Norway was determined by using this ELISA. No more information on Salmonella in reindeer in Norway is known to the authors. This is the first ELISA established for indirect detection of Salmonella in reindeer.     

Investigation and characterization of the frozen feeder rodent industry in Texas following a multi-state Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak associated with frozen vacuum-packed rodents

A multi-state outbreak investigation of Salmonella Typhimurim cases associated with pet snakes and the frozen vacuum-packed rodents used to feed them identified a Texas frozen feeder rodent facility (Supplier A) as the source of the Salmonella-infected frozen rodents. Texas authorities collected samples directly from Supplier A. Seven Salmonella-positive samples out of 49 environmental swabs were found and one adult mouse out of 88 frozen feeder rodents was Salmonella-positive by culture. No Salmonella strains were isolated from rodent feeds. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) subtype patterns of S. Typhimurium isolates from feeder rodent and environment samples were indistinguishable from the outbreak strain isolated from humans. A follow-up investigation was performed on all additional feeder rodent facilities identified in Texas. Salmonella was isolated at one of four facilities; seven of 100 rodent samples were positive for Salmonella at this facility. The serotype S. I 4,[5],12:i:- was isolated from seven feeder rodent samples, and PFGE patterns of the seven isolates were indistinguishable. As observed in the initial outbreak investigation, no Salmonella were cultured from rodent feeds at any of the facilities. The feeder rodent industry is an insufficiently recognized industry in the United States. Outbreak investigation and testing of additional feeder rodent facilities in Texas indicate that further evaluation of feeder rodent facilities as a source of Salmonella for pet snakes and humans is warranted.     

Isolation,Identification and Pathogenicity of Salmonella typhimurium from Guizhou Pony

To investigate the reason of the diarrhea in Guizhou pony,we used the feces of pony as experimental material to isolate and detect pathogenic bacteria.S6 strain was isolated from SS and XLD medium,and identified using Gram staining,biochemical tests and molecular phylogeny methods.The results showed that S6 strain could growth on SS and XLD medium,and the Gram staining was negative.Biochemical test suggested that its phenotype features were accordance with Salmonella.The 16S rRNA gene sequence of S6 strain was determined in a nucleotide sequence identity of 99% with Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 13311 (NR_119108).Based on the morphological and molecular phylogenetic results,the strain was identified as Salmonella typhimurium S6 strain.It was virulent to mice with the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 4.71×10² CFU.Then,we amplified the invasion protein A (invA) gene by PCR method.The invA gene isolated from S6 strain contained 6 to 8 bp different from the known gene,which resulted in only one amino acid substitution.The mutant sites of invA gene might attribute to the pathogenicity of S6 strain.The detection rate of Salmonella was 57% in Guizhou pony population.It was inferred that the diarrhea in Guizhou pony might be caused by virulent Salmonella typhimurium.